Fears about “kickbacks,” double-billing and other “improprieties” by some Toronto Community Housing employees and vendors has sparked a third-party investigation.

TCHC CEO Gene Jones announced the independent review Wednesday after a third-party audit uncovered “possible improprieties by vendors and staff that warrant further investigation” into the corporation’s policies and practices around repairs.

Jones said he received an anonymous tip late last year about “improprieties” by staff and vendors that led to the initial audit.

“Kickbacks, people not agreeing to work or approving work that they shouldn’t have been approving,” Jones said, when asked to define what he meant by improprieties.

“We’ve been double-billed, maybe paid vendors twice and so forth, and put vendors on a list that shouldn’t have been on the list — they didn’t go through the process.”

He stressed TCHC officials don’t yet know if any criminal wrongdoing has occurred.

“If there is a possibility that there is criminal activity — we’re going to go after that,” Jones said.

The CEO said he wants to ensure the affordable housing provider is a “landlord of excellence.

“We are vehemently going to change the perception that we’re just a corrupt agency,” he said.

TCHC board chairman Bud Purves said he was very upset by the allegations but stressed “we’re going to improve this corporation.

“The board is 100% behind this initiative,” he said.

Purves said the cost of the investigation isn’t known yet, but “it will be well worth” the cost.

TCHC board member Councillor Ana Bailao said the corporation is heading in the right direction.

“The board and management have been listening to residents of TCHC very carefully and they are taking action,” Bailao said.

While officials couldn’t put a dollar amount being lost by the alleged improprieties, Bailao stressed “every penny counts.

“It is important that we ensure there are no contractors taking advantage of the most vulnerable in our city,” she said.

Councillor Maria Augimeri — a member of the TCHC board — said they have “great faith” the audit will uncover any impropriety.

“We will finally, for the record, put to rest any of the allegations of wrongdoing in the corporation,” Augimeri said.

Augimeri said she’s heard from tenants that sometimes work has been “shoddy.”

“If that’s the case, then Mr. Jones’ audit will lead to perhaps people being fired; perhaps, people being investigated,” she said. “It is all up in the air right now.”

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